Creating a new emotional connection with classical music: this is the objective of the immersive installation “Praeludium”, developed by the EPFL+ECAL Lab, the design center of the Federal Polytechnic School of Lausanne.
This experimental installation, which combines sound and light, will be presented for the first time to the public on Saturday at the Friborg International Festival of Sacred Music (FIMS).
“Praeludium” – prelude in Latin – aims to “make classical music more accessible”, to “connect to it in another way”, project leader Cédric Duchêne explains to Keystone-ATS.
The installation includes a 3D sound system with a double crown of speakers, eight light steles and a touch console. This allows you to interact with the music, for example to highlight its texture with patterns and add colors.
“The approach aims to express an emotional feeling, to be able to combine several senses,” indicates Cédric Duchêne. He emphasizes that the installation is not a “simple lightshow”, but a new way of approaching and experiencing classical music.
The role of color
“Praeludium” was also used to conduct various studies, in particular to find out which scenarios allowed for “the best emotional connection” with classical music.
It emerged that listening in complete darkness was preferred to listening combined with the projection of white visual patterns. On the other hand, when color is added to patterns, the overall experience is significantly improved, this study showed. “Color acts as an emotional engine,” remarks Mr. Duchêne.
For the EPFL+ECAL Lab, these observations present “great potential for the promotion of classical music to new audiences”, writes the Lausanne laboratory in its press release.
Presentation to the public
The installation, which allows you to “hear with your eyes” compositions by Ravel, Berlioz and Fauré, is the result of two years of work. It was carried out by different specialists – designers, digital interaction researchers, engineers and psychologists – who regularly collaborated with musicians.
The RTS and the Acousmatik association in Friborg also participated in the project, which will now be presented to the public until July 7 at FIMS. “Praeludium” is installed under the Dome, a mobile room 12 m in diameter and 6 m high, explains Cédric Duchêne. Demonstrations, which can bring together up to 50 people, are offered. It is also planned to complete the studies carried out so far.
This article was automatically published. Source: ats
